Signs of a heart attack in women may be subtle, and they may not even include chest pain. Learn the crucial symptoms that women need to watch for.

We've
all seen the way a heart attack is depicted in the movies — with a lot of
chest-clutching and popping eyes, followed by a person dropping motionless to
the ground. However, not all heart attacks are like that, especially when it
comes to heart disease in
women. In real life, the signs of a heart attack in women can
differ significantly from the stereotypical heart attack.

The
most frequent warning sign of heart disease
is fatigue, says Sohah N. Iqbal, MD, a general and interventional cardiologist
at New York University Langone Medical Center in New York City. "This is
usually our body's way of saying ‘I don't feel like I normally do.' The most
frequent acute sign of a heart attack is shortness of breath."

Chest
pain — including pressure, tightness, or squeezing — happens in only 35 to 45
percent of women having a heart attack. "Surprisingly, women present with
chest pain more often than men do," says Philip D. Ragno, MD, president of
Island Cardiac Specialists in Garden City, N.Y. and director of cardiovascular
health and wellness at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y.
"However, their chest pain is much more likely to be sharp or burning
rather than pressure-like. Women may have pain in their back, neck, or jaw.
Pain is often felt at rest or comes on during the night." Pain also can
occur in one or both arms, the upper back, or stomach.

In
addition to fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest pain, there are a number of
other possible signs of a heart attack in
women to be aware of:

·Nausea or vomiting

·Breaking out in a cold sweat

·Dizziness or lightheadedness

·Inability to sleep

·Pale or clammy skin

·Anxiety

Women
should also be aware that even if these symptoms come and go, they could still
be signs of a heart attack.

Why Heart Attack Symptoms Differ Between Women and Men

No
one knows for sure why heart attack symptoms often present differently in men
and women, but there are a few theories. "Studies have shown that men and
women perceive pain
differently, and this may help explain why women exhibit different signs of
heart disease and heart attack than men," says JoAnne Foody, MD, American
College of Cardiology spokesperson and director of the Cardiovascular Wellness
Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

Another
idea revolves around hormonal differences in women, which can cause more
small-vessel narrowing and could contribute to different symptoms.

Depression
is another possible culprit. Not only is depression a significant factor for
heart disease, but it can also alter heart disease symptoms — and depression
affects women twice as much as men.

What to Do in Case of a Heart Attack

If
you think you're experiencing signs of a heart attack, you should immediately
call 911 and get medical attention. You can also chew two 325 mg aspirin
tablets while awaiting the ambulance. Then, alert a neighbor or family member
to stay with you until help arrives.

"Remember
there is little harm in a false alarm, yet if you are truly having a heart
attack, your cardiologist only has a six-hour window to open that artery and
limit the damage. So the worst thing that you can do is sit at home and ‘wait
it out,'" says Dr. Rango.